8 Reasons Why You Need Iodine!

I wanted to share an experience I had the other week that lead me to do a whole lot more reading on iodine. During a gym visit I was massaging the Lymphatic Body Oil into my neck after my steam, and I noticed how painful from my ear to my throat was, along with swelling in my thyroid on the right side. That same week prior to this discovery, I had decided to get an iodine liquid supplement and it arrived one day after I noticed this inflammation. I began taking the iodine supplement once a day and within 72 hours my neck had no pain, and my thyroid was completely back to normal. This prompted me to take a deeper dive into understanding iodine and how it functions in our body.

8 Reasons Why You Need Iodine

Iodine is a trace mineral, and we need it in very tiny amounts, but it has huge impact on the functioning of our bodies. Babies need 90 mg of iodine, while adolescents and adults need 150 mg, with pregnant women needing 220 mg and breastfeeding women requiring 270 mg. It would appear to be quite difficult during any given normal day to over consume iodine, as it is recommended that adults should not take more than 1100 mg of iodine per day and most of us are getting negligible to non existent amounts. The amounts that we are getting are then being blocked from uptake in the body due to several chemical compounds in our water and food.

Most of the iodine is contained in the thyroid gland. The thyroid needs iodine to make the thyroid hormones. The T4 and T3 hormones are named as such for the number of molecules attached to this protein hormone. The inactive T4 form of this thyroid hormone converts 80% of the T4 into the active form of these hormones called T3 through the liver, and the other 20% is converted through the kidneys. We also need selenium for this conversion process. Interesting tip, a natural source for selenium can be found in just two Brazil nuts. 

If we do not have proper levels of iodine for this conversion it impacts our metabolism, hair, nails, mood, increases cholesterol, may cause weight gain all over the body, along with many other problems including nodules on the thyroid itself, and various forms of cancer.

How Does Iodine Support the Body?

1. Relieves dry and flaky skin. A study showed that 77% of people with low thyroid hormone levels experience dry skin. Iodine deficiency can reduce the rate of skin cell regeneration, often leading to dry, flaky skin. Having adequate iodine in your body not only aids in the normal secretion of thyroid hormones but also helps to keep your skin healthy and smooth.

2. Body detoxification. Iodine plays a vital role in detoxifying your body from halides like fluoride, bromide and chlorine. Halides can cause illnesses like cysts, fibroids in different body parts, fibrocystic breast disease, and even cancers of reproductive organs. Iodine can prevent you from those diseases by flushing halides from your system. You can detox your body from heavy metals like cadmium, lead, mercury, and aluminum with a regular iodine intake. Iodine allows your body to pass these toxins out of your system.

3. Skin rejuvenation. Iodine aids in promoting health skin, nails, and hair. It helps in cellular function and regeneration of the lower layers of your skin. By rejuvenating the skin from the inner layers, iodine can provide a smooth complexion, healthy and shiny hair, and strong nails. Adequate iodine in your body helps to strengthen your hair follicles and improve hair growth.

4. Iodine protects you against high levels of estrogen. High estrogen levels can lead to fibrocystic breast, ovarian cysts, and other forms of cancer in the breast, uterus and prostrate. Iodine is essential to lowering the risk of cancer in these areas of the body.

5. Protects from hypothyroidism. Many women end up with a thyroid condition while pregnant due to the high levels of estrogen and not having enough iodine during pregnancy to counteract this. Same thing goes with birth control pills, hormonal replacement therapy, eating a lot of inorganic foods with pesticides and eating high amounts of soy products or soy milk.

6. Protects cognitive function. Cognitive function is impacted especially during pregnancy and for a growing infant. The child can end up with a lower IQ based on the mother not having enough iodine. 

7. Iodine reduces the need of insulin, so helps balance blood sugars. It is very interesting that herbalists use Dandelion for various health issues, such as blood sugar and inflammation. Dandelion is one of the herbs known to contain iodine. 

8. Iodine helps prevent hot flashes. Sufficient iodine intake helps to regulate perspiration and keeps skin moist. Make sure your iodine consumption is optimum, and not excessive. Too much iodine in your system can lead to the opposite effect.

We are deficient in iodine because much of our soils no longer have the microbes to mobilize trace minerals including iodine. Although, those in countries such as Japan have much less health issues associated with iodine deficiency because of their diets. 

Fluoride also blocks iodine uptake in the body, along with bromide or bromate. Fluoride is found in many of our water sources, and in products we use on the daily. Taking measures to remove it from our consumption is very important. Bromide or bromate is found in flour and flour-based products to create more elasticity in the dough. These chemical compounds have been banned in most developing countries, accept the U.S. Sometimes it is not even put on the label at all. This includes pastas, breads, cookies, cereal, crackers and other grain based products.

A Few Natural Sources for Iodine

1. A sea kelp called Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosis) from a healthy water source is one of the best sources of iodine.

2. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is rich in sulfur, potassium, iodine, inulin, triterpenoids and taraxacoside, and it has a diuretic and tonic action. Sulfur and iodine enhance the main therapeutic effects of dandelion.

3. Black pepper is also high in sulfur and iodine and this why it helps to relieve nausea, poor appetite and indigestion.

4. Walnut (Juglans) leaves and fruit are high in sulfur and iodine. Herbalists have used the bark, leaves and nuts to treat a range of disorders, including skin problems, microbial infections, inflammation and gastrointestinal disorders.

I will be delving into this very important trace mineral in greater depth, however I very much suggest you do some of your own homework and discover why you need to be aware of not only what to consume to support your iodine levels, but what you may need to take out of your daily habits as well. If you would like more support with your skin and body concerns and/or goals book a 15-minute free Clinical Herbalist consultation at bee23.ca!

A small reminder this is not medical advice only a recommendation, and as always please be advised by a trusted practitioner to know what is right for you.